The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-01-12
BIG AND LITTLE HEADS.
CRANlUMS DIMINISH AS THE EQUA
TOR IS APPROACHED.

Philosophers Theory In Regard %
the Matter-Hs Says the Mind IL
Not in the Brain-The Tape Lines
story.
A tall, broad shouldered man, With gray
hair and whiskers, and the general air OF
WORLDLY innocence that characterizes the
scientific person, visited the Aztec fair The
matadoi,,' swords and caballeros' spurs failed
to attract his attention, and he was not in
terested in the frying of tortillas by buxom
females, descendants of the Montezumas.
Adjusting his spectacles across his nose, and
taking a brief survey of the hall with his
beaming blue eyes, he rubbed his palms to-
gether in a gratified way and softly muir
muresi: oh, this saves me quite Journey
and drew a note book and small steel tape
from his pocket Marching up to the nearest
hombre who was industriously fashioning
silver into delicate jewelry, the tall man
gently but firmly drew the tape line around
the astonished greaser's head, carefully noted
the measurement, and made an entry In his
note book Smiling blandly and reassuringly
upon the exhibit he proceeded to measure the
Mexicans head in various ways and make
notes Before the bewildered fellow could
collect his wits the tall man had moved on to
the next booth and slipped his tape around
another skull serenely oblivious to the senSa-
ton he was creating among the puzzled
Mexicans.
AT last he tackled q vaquero who could
sneak English. and wanted to know the pur-
pose Of the measurements. The investigator
explained that he devoted his whole time 20
travelling over the world measuring peoples
heads. and some dav he would write book
about il, showing what folks have the big
Rest heads of the lot, not counting young
actors or newly elect congressman. The
vaauero Was disappointed TO learn that the
tall man was NOT an eccentric American
philanthropist with amiable desire TO pre-
sent new sonbreros 10 the whole show.
TOLD By THE TAPE LINE
The gentleman was DIR. Sims, who long
ago retired from practice and took up theor-
izing and investigating In reply 10 my
| questions the doctor sail: These chaps, l
| find have very small heads and conse-
| quently small brains. They are not Aztecs,
| of course but b1lnnr to the mixed Spanish
and Indian race OF Mexico. The fact that
their heads are small IL only another proof of
INV theory or rather OF my generalization
| from long observation, that the largest heads
are i'll tn, cold countries. and the size of skull
| and weight diminish you approach the
| equator. have measured heads from Lap
lanl To Egypt and from India to New Tea
/ land aud TIN result proves the truth Of the
| general statement The Iaplanders have the
| largest heads and the equatorial races the
smallest But the Lsplander is by no means
/ a prodigy of mental activity: III fact, he IS
| rather inclined to he stupid.
| Now | have discovered that the brain has
| nothing TO do with the operation of thought.
| The mind as it il called, Is not located in the
| brain. The brain IL vital organ, like the
heart. and supplies to the body through the
nerves. Sever the nerves in sleeps neck
| and the heat of the body diminshes, i'll regu-
| lar proportion. many degrees minute.
| l'he experience of arctic explorers has shown
that men with big heads endure the cold best.
The brain is life giving organ Ii is the
! dynamo that sends heat and electricity along
| the nerves to ali parts of the body. In cold
| climates more heat i required. and heat and
| brain, are bigger than in warmer climates.
| People living near the equator require little
| body heat, ami their heads small But
the Intellect - not affected by the size OF the
head Big men have big heads, but the smart
men are not all big by any means The big
ge,t brain that weighed was that OF
| a concental IDIOT. The next heaviest was
| Ivan Tourgenieff> The latter was a Russian
and Russians have big heads because their
country is cold. | could cite facts by the
| hour To prove my theory, and some day the
ANTAGONISTS will all agree with me that the
| old notion of the brain power is entirely
erroneous" The doctor sighted another for
| eigu head across the hall. and, whipping out
his tape line. he disappeared in the crowd
walking over small people without noticing
their protests i'll his anxiety not to lose sight
| of the new specimen New York Cor Chi
cago Herald